Patents by Inventor Max Leitner

Max Leitner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12559172
    Abstract: A steering axle for a steerable vehicle includes an axle housing, a steering motor, a steering gear, a first steering knuckle with a first steering arm, a second steering knuckle with a second steering arm, a coupling rod, a first tie rod, and a second tie rod. The first and second steering arms are each rigidly arranged on a respective steering knuckle that is hinged in the axle housing. The first and second tie rods are each hinged at a first end to a respective steering arm and hinged at a second end to the coupling rod. The steering axle is configured so that the steering motor can set a steering angle of the steering axle via the steering gear. The steering axle has first and second intermediate steering levers, each hinged at its first end to the axle body and hinged at its second end to the coupling rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mauritz, Wolfgang Klinger, Max Leitner
  • Patent number: 12552446
    Abstract: A steering drive for a steering axle of a steerable vehicle includes an electric motor with a motor shaft. A steering lever is rotatable about a pivot axis that is parallel to the electric motor. First and second planetary stages each have a sun gear, planet gears, and a planet carrier. The steering drive is configured such that a force flow runs from the first sun gear via the first planet gears to the first planet carrier. The force flow furthermore runs via the second sun gear and via the second planet gears to the second planet carrier, and furthermore runs to the steering lever. The steering drive has a spur gear stage and is configured such that a force flow from the motor shaft to the first sun gear runs via the spur gear stage. Also disclosed is a steering axle and an industrial truck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mauritz, Max Leitner
  • Publication number: 20230159085
    Abstract: A drive (1) for a steering axle (26) of an industrial truck includes two steering arms (11, 12), an axle arch (8), a tie rod (13) configured as a spindle (13), a spindle nut (7) fixed axially on the tie rod (13), and a gear stage (21). Adjustment of the steering arms (11, 12) can be effected by axial displacement of the tie rod (13), and by the spindle nut (7) being able to be driven by a drive output element (7) of the gear stage (21). The drive (1) has two mutually coaxial electric motors (17, 18) disposed parallel to the tie rod (13). A drive element (14) of the gear stage (21) can be driven by the two electric motors (17, 18), which are disposed so as to be axially centric between the two electric motors (17, 18). Also disclosed is a steering axle and an industrial truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Christian Stammberger, Max Leitner
  • Publication number: 20230159097
    Abstract: A steering axle for a steerable vehicle includes an axle housing, a steering motor, a steering gear, a first steering knuckle with a first steering arm, a second steering knuckle with a second steering arm, a coupling rod, a first tie rod, and a second tie rod. The first and second steering arms are each rigidly arranged on a respective steering knuckle that is hinged in the axle housing. The first and second tie rods are each hinged at a first end to a respective steering arm and hinged at a second end to the coupling rod. The steering axle is configured so that the steering motor can set a steering angle of the steering axle via the steering gear. The steering axle has first and second intermediate steering levers, each hinged at its first end to the axle body and hinged at its second end to the coupling rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mauritz, Wolfgang Klinger, Max Leitner
  • Publication number: 20230159087
    Abstract: A steering drive for a steering axle of a steerable vehicle includes an electric motor with a motor shaft. A steering lever is rotatable about a pivot axis that is parallel to the electric motor. First and second planetary stages each have a sun gear, planet gears, and a planet carrier. The steering drive is configured such that a force flow runs from the first sun gear via the first planet gears to the first planet carrier. The force flow furthermore runs via the second sun gear and via the second planet gears to the second planet carrier, and furthermore runs to the steering lever. The steering drive has a spur gear stage and is configured such that a force flow from the motor shaft to the first sun gear runs via the spur gear stage. Also disclosed is a steering axle and an industrial truck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Mauritz, Max Leitner
  • Patent number: 5335764
    Abstract: An interengaging clutch comprises first and second rotatable clutch halves, the first clutch half being a driven clutch element connected to a first wheel drive train and being movable along an axial direction, the second clutch half being a driving clutch element and being connected to a main drive train and to a second wheel drive train. The clutch halves have circumferentially disposed dogs or teeth with intermeshing contact surfaces for engaging the clutch halves together so that torque can be transmitted from the second clutch half to the first clutch when they are interengaged and rotating at different rotational speeds. Connected to the first clutch half is a unidirectional servo component which is pressure actuated on one side only so as to move the first clutch half into engagement with the second clutch. The interengaging clutch further includes first and second rotational speed sensors which produce signals indicative of the rotational speeds of the clutch halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG
    Inventors: Max Leitner, Gerhard J. Fruhwirth